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Beware of the BotnetPosted Tuesday, August 14, 2007, at 8:44 PM
Not so many years ago the majority of us where using slow dial up internet connections at home and at work. Today I am amazed when I think about the powerful pipelines of data that flow from major metropolitan city to the next. Now many people have broadband service in their home. With great power comes great responsibility though. This powerful internet connection is a valuable tool in the hands of those that know how to exploit it. Here is the problem we face today. Many of the computers that I see from day to day usually have similar characteristics: unpatched security holes and expired virus scanners. The most recent attacks have involved the Java runtime environment and Quicktime. One problem with these programs is that they make updates optional. Many people simply ignore the messages that pop up informing them that a new version is available. Most people don't understand the risk. Today I would like to give you my number one reason why updates should not be ignored; terrorism. If you do not have a virus scanner or ignore updates you are probably supporting terrorists. SAY WHAT? Yes it is true.
Example: You are searching for information on the internet about something that interests you (quilt making for example). You probably will go to a search engine and begin a search. That search will more than likely return over 1000 pages related to your topic. You don't know who put those pages on there, yet you go there anyways. This is normal behavior. Unfortunately for you, the site you click on was counting on your computer not to be patched to protect against the latest security flaw and you also don't have a virus scanner that is up to date. As the page is displaying your quilt making information it also installs a trojan horse. This trojan horse goes undetected and once installed begins calling home to its master for the next task. The master begins sending your computer tools necessary to complete the hacker's next mission. Now here is the scary part. Your computer could now be hosting a website promoting Bin Laden or sending out millions of unwanted spam messages per day. Once infected with a trojan your computer is more than likely a member of a botnet. A botnet is a collection of infected zombie computers. This botnet can consist of millions of zombie computers and can have more power than the best supercomputers on the planet. The combination of all these computers and their high speed internet connections make them a force to be reckoned with. Computers in the botnet can be called to action all at once. A botnet millions of computers strong has the potential to bring the internet to its knees. You ARE the frontline of computer security. If you don't update your programs and you ignore the need for a virus scanner then you should not complain when your inbox is full of spam. I recommend you purchase a virus scanner from a trusted virus scanner manufacturer and do your part to put an end to spam and other security attacks that helps the enemy accomplish their goals. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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What do you do when you have 2 e-mail accouts and only one of them is full of spam and you have the spam filter set? I have up to 100 messages a day from spammers and it is getting on my nerves. I have an anti-virus, I have my firewalls on, I have pop-up blockers and normally just go to sites that I trust. When I do go to other sites that I am unfamiliar with, my virus protection doesn't "sound the alarm" which it normally does if it finds "harmful adware" How else can I protect myself?
It seems over the years, the more that we've tried to stop spam, the worst and more discrete it has become. I can log onto yahoo messenger now and I've got 5-10 spam "members" leaving me offline messages. I really hope that one day we can put a stop to all this spam.
Vindicated, If your spam filter is set and you are still getting 100 messages a day, you need to get a new filter. Yours doesn't work very well.
Weezie, the only way to stop spam is to make it not profitable. As long as people buy what the spam is offering, spammers will find a way to get it to your inbox. Basically all anti-spam tools are reactive to spamming tactics and not proactive.
It is the spam filter you set on Yahoo..it works on my other yahoo account, I have had it for years and NEVER received a piece of spam, but that's not the case on the other yahoo account...and Weezie84 I also receive several offline messages when I log on to Yahoo Messanger, Yahoo seems to have the problem.
My Yahoo automatically send all spam to the 'spam' folder, though lately i have noticed some have been slipping through the cracks and wind up in the inbox...
but thanks nathan for this useful info!
Vindicated, that's the best idea, by far, for protecting yourself from e-mails. Get an online e-mail account that you can check from anywhere, open anything (except d/l'd attachments) and not have to worry about it corrupting your local system. My wife and I have noticed an overabundance of e-mails lately on our Yahoo accounts that are getting through their spam filters inquiring as to whether we would want this or that, longer, shorter, fatter, more stamina, more people...that sort of thing. I just click on mark them spam and move on my way. Actually, I've received quite a few very legitimate sounding offers from these nice gentlemen in Nigeria that want me to help them get some of their money out of the country. For this assistance, they are willing to reward me generously. Now, they are sending this to me "confidentially", I was surprised that they even knew where Bell Buckle was...there are people in Tullahoma that don't...they work, at Blockbuster. Anyway, between that and the British lottery that I've recently won (strange, I don't remember ever playing the British lottery), I believe I should be able to retire shortly.
You do know that the Nigerian men are a complete scam correct?
You seem intelligent so I am assuming you know that, but please advise other people that all they want to do is get your bank account info, and take everything they can out of it!
darrick_04, yes, I realize that both the British lottery (which I am certain I've never bought a ticket for) and the Nigerian things are scams. I was being sarcastic. I'm still not used to being around some that are not "techies" so I will try to make this perfectly clear...DO NOT SEND ANYONE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, or ANY OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION without first THOROUGHLY CHECKING THEM OUT THROUGH THE BBB. If someone tells you that they want to send you gobs of cash for anything, it's a scam. Another thing to look out for are PHISHING scams. You will receive an e-mail that looks like it's from your bank (or another bank, e-bay, paypal, whatever) and they'll tell you that you have to login "using the link below" and verify your account settings. If you look at the link, it says "www.wachovia.com/blah/blah/blah" BUT if you hover your cursor over the link where it says that (do NOT CLICK ON THE LINK), look at the bottom left of the screen in the frame of your browser. If it does not say "http://www.wachovia.com/blah/blah/blah", or possibly it'll start with "https://" this indicates a secure site, then you are getting a phishing e-mail and that should be forwarded to whomever handles security at your bank (may not be Wachovia) or e-bay, or paypal, or whatever.
Regarding the updates that pop up now and then. I have a new lap top with Windows Vista and it is the least user friendly system that I have ever owned. I have allowed some updates that have either slowed my computer down to a crawl or has rendered other programs inoperable. Does any one else experience this problem when allowing updates? Does anyone have Vista that actually works as it should?
I use Windows Vista and do not experience many problems with how it operates. It does get annoying answering so many security questions and I find that some programs (Office 2003 and Adobe Photoshop CS2) always think they are being run for the first time and want me to register after I have already completed registration many times. I also have had some trouble getting Vista to connect to password protected XP network shares. Beyond that I have found Vista to be far more reliable than any other version of Windows.
I readily admit that it could be my neanderthal computer skills contributing to my frustration. I too have had trouble with network shares, but also applications as simple as installing a printer. And I am with you on the product registers and renewals, they will drive you to distraction more often than not. Whoops, have to go, time to register Word again......
when i use yahoo messanger some messages are send automatically from my id to the contacts of my messenger list . The messages are to open a link. also when i open internet explorer one specified site is opening first . I have tried it to remove from internet options but the apply button is not working . what can i do ? help me
Do you have a virus scanner installed? If so which virus scanner do you use?